Olympic FC’s fairy tale 2013 National Premier Leagues season is over after a fighting 4-3 defeat to Sydney United 58 FC in their NPL Semi-Final on Saturday evening.

The NPL Queensland Premiers took an early lead at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, and twice levelled courtesy of youngsters Jake McLean and Nick Efstathis, before succumbing to a match-winning hat-trick from United’s former A-League forward Mirjan Pavlovic.

Considered underdogs prior to the match, Olympic took a surprise lead in only the fifth minute when United defender Nathan Sherlock miscued an attempted clearance into his own net.

The visitors restored parity only four minutes later when Yuichi Yamayuchi fired home from twelve yards following a concentrated United build-up.

Pavlovic netted his first five minutes later, demonstrating skill, strength and persistence to beat his marker with a nodded first touch then hold off a defender before poking the ball past Olympic shot-stopper Mario Aparicio on the second attempt

Skipper Danny Byrne and striker Tim Smits were continually involved for Olympic and fashioned half chances prior to the half hour, as did Jai Ingham and Kazuya Ito following a somewhat nervy starts from the pair.

The hosts levelled before the break when Byrne picked out Jake McLean lurking near the penalty spot, the 20-year-old looping his header over United goalkeeper Paul Henderson, who had stuttered off his line during the build-up.

Pavlovic, who previously plied his trade with Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets, pounced for his second shortly after the restart, smacking home a volley from close range after creating room on the edge of the six yard box.

United look increasingly assured with the newly restored lead, and spurned several chances, before Olympic proved they can never be discounted – Nick Efstathis delaying his run to head home from Jai Ingham’s corner kick on 65 minutes.

However, United replied inside five minutes as Pavlovic sealed his hat-trick with a solid finish past Olympic shot-stopper Mario Aparicio following yet another solid United build-up.

Tired legs started to tell for Olympic who, in the absence of impact players Matt Heath and Luke Powell, did not call upon their largely inexperienced bench throughout the 90 minutes.

Olympic still flirted with a fairytale finish – McLean’s 85^th minute strike cannoning off the crossbar to the clear disappointment of the parochial Brisbane crowd – before United held on for a hard-fought victory.

Sydney United will now meet South Hobart FC in the National Premier Leagues Final after the Tasmanian club defeated South Australia’s Campbelltown City 3-1 in Sunday’s second semi-final.

FULL TIME RESULT

National Premier Leagues Semi-Final
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Brisbane
Saturday, 5th October 2013

Olympic FC 3 (own goal 5’, Jake MCLEAN 37’, Nicholas EFSTATHIS 64’)
Sydney United 58 FC (Yuichi YAMAYUCHI 9’, Mirjan PAVLOVIC 14’ 49’ 70’)

Official Attendance: 930

Teams:
OLYMPIC FC
1. Mario APARICIO, 2. Matthew BYRNE, 5. Kazuya ITO, 6. Matt MUNDY, 7. Daniel CRACK, 8. Jack PETRIE, 9. Tim SMITS, 10. Daniel BYRNE (c), 12. Nick Efstathis, 14. Jai INGHAM, 18. Jake MCLEAN
(Unused Subsitutes: 3. Joey FIELDS, 4. Buddy RAHMAN, 13. David BOWATER, 17. Ryan RODERICK, 23. Matthew LUGO (GK))

SYDNEY UNITED 58 FC
1. Paul HENDERSON, 3. Benjamin JURMAN, 4. Nathan SHERLOCK, 5. Calum O’CONNELL (23. Ante TOMIC 81’), 6. Mitchell STAMETELLIS, 7. MIrjan PAVLOVIC, 8. Yuichi YAMAYUCHI (9. Robert MILESKI 68’), 11. Luka GLAVAS, 18. Glen TRIFIRO, 19. Mathew BILIC, 20. HAYDAR Ibrahim (2. Mitchell SPEER 76’)

(Unused Substitues: 15. Anthony TOMELIC, 30. Jordan JENNINGS (GK))

 

 

Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Ian Judd